Arriving in Miami

So today has been a crazy long day which started with 4 hours of sleep. Arriving at the airport I originally thought David would be able to go through security with me, but unfortunately our flights were not at the same terminal. As a result, we had to say our goodbyes at the security. He told me to wave to him once I get thru, but because of all of the bobby pins in my hair I set off the alarm, unfortunately I was considered a risk by the metal detectors and had to be patted down (by a female employee of course).

After stopping at an airport shop to pick up a ridiculously expensive yogurt for breakfast, I realized that it was final boarding for my flight! I ran the rest of the terminal to my gate, and ended up being the last person to board the flight. Once I was safely in my seat for two hours, I managed to get motion sickness and had to use the barf bag (there goes the yogurt I ate). Luckily, once I disposed my body of the yogurt, I felt perfectly fine and only managed to gross out the people around me.

Once I reached my final destination of Coconut Grove Hotel, I recognized two Davidson alums- Darryl Childers and Trenita Childers! There are serving as a married couple. I was too geeked to see some people that I knew, and did not realize how stressful it can be to meet new people at once. It was also at this point that I realized all 50 of the Peace Corps Volunteers currently staying at the hotel were all going to the DR with me!

The rest of the day was a hot and humid orientation (the electricity went out because of the hurricane weather in Miami), which involved climbing 20 flights of stairs, meet and greet with other volunteers, and many other staging events. Afterward a bunch of us headed to Chili’s for dinner in which we were able to get to know each other better and share our own anxieties and aspirations about serving as a volunteer.

All in all it was all new and exciting to meet other people in my own situation, feeling the same things I am feeling.